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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, September 13, 2001

America's bloodiest day
Postponements could force Series to November

Advertiser News Services

Baseball may play its first World Series games in November, and Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn could get to finish at home as result of the terrorist attacks that disrupted the major league schedule.

San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds is still in the running to break Mark McGwire's home run record, but his pursuit has been temporarily halted.

Associated Press

Games through today were called off, raising the total to 45, the most postponed since 1918. There was no decision on this weekend's series.

There's a good chance the regular season would be extended beyond its scheduled finish on Sept. 30 to make up the postponed games.

"Whether we start Friday or whether we start Monday, I think that's how it will play out," Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo said.

That would lead to the possibility of the October Classic producing its first Mr. November.

It also means that Ripken and Gwynn could finish their Hall of Fame careers at home instead of on the road. Ripken and the Baltimore Orioles were to end the season at Yankee Stadium, while Gwynn and the San Diego Padres were set to finish in San Francisco.

"Obviously, there are some issues that come up because of people who bought tickets to the last series and now it wouldn't be the last series," Gwynn said. "Other than that, I'm really not that worried about it."

Some players weren't even looking that far ahead, worried instead about security in ballparks.

"If you could pull off hijacking four planes in one day, I imagine you could bomb a stadium," Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell said.

Said the Braves' Brian Jordan: "If I were a fan, I would not be sitting in no stadium watching a baseball game."

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig consulted with his security staff and had no such concerns.

"They've assured me we can play and be safe," he said.

After speaking with many teams throughout the day, Selig wasn't sure when play would resume.

"What I'm trying desperately to do here is be as sensitive as I can and do what's right for the country," he said.

Baseball could reschedule the postponed games as part of doubleheaders next week. Teams that had been scheduled to play each other this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will meet next week in the other city.

Selig, however, would prefer to play those games between Oct. 1-3. If this weekend's games also are postponed, those could be played from Oct. 5-7.

If that happens, the start of the World Series would be pushed from Oct. 20 to Oct. 27. Game 7, if necessary, wouldn't be played until Nov. 4.

MINOR LEAGUES

• Five cancel season: Five minor leagues canceled the remainder of their playoffs yesterday, ended their seasons and declared champions.

The other five minor leagues that still were in the midst of their postseasons postponed games through today.

Both Triple-A leagues, the highest level of the minors, shut down their seasons.

Louisville was declared International League champion and Tacoma and New Orleans were declared co-champions of the Pacific Coast League.

Lake Elsinore and San Jose, managed by Hawai'i resident Lenn Sakata, were declared co-champions of the Class-A California League; Lexington was declared champion of the Class-A South Atlantic League; and Brooklyn and Williamsport were made co-champions of the short season Class-A New York-Penn League.

Five other sanctioned leagues are in the midst of their playoffs: Eastern, Southern and Texas (all Double-A), and Florida State and Midwest (both Single-A).